Dr. Fred Clary's Functional Analysis Chiropractic Technique

Efficient Inhalation
Normal Physiological Breathing Wave
· Initiates at coccyx – sacrum
· Moves inferior to superior

Initiation

Initiation of breathing mechanics is the most important sensory-motor program in the CNS. An inefficient program here can lead to partitioning (sapping off) of CNS resources to maintain a breathing program. Again, since energy is a limited resource and evolutionary adaptive processes drive neuroplasticity towards efficiency, the breathing mechanics take priority in energy and significance in the thalamus.

The Chiropractor observes which region moves FIRST on inhalation. Be careful not to be misled by regions that have the most movement. It is the region that moves first that is the location of Initiation.

IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT LABELS (NAMED DISEASES) CAN BE PRESENT WITH ANY ABERRANT BREATHING PATTERN.

Aberrant Initiation in the thoracics or a cycle that initiates in the lumbars can reveal:

· Brain Stem Issues

· Chemical Dependencies

· Hormonal Imbalances

· SIDS Potential

· Bipolar Disorder

· Depression

· Chronic Pain

Aberrant Initiation that is focused more superiorly than the pelvis:

· Loss of initiation of pelvic movement will cause a degree of visceral circulatory stasis and pelvic diaphragm weakness will develop, as will an imbalance between increasingly weakening abdominal muscles versus hypertonic spinal stabilizers.

· The upper ribs will be fixated superiorly on the chronic motion palpation and there will be dysafferentation costal cartilage tension on palpation.

· The thoracic spine will have intersegmental glide fixations caused by lack of normal motion of the articulation with the ribs.

· Thoracic breathing wastes large amounts of energy. In this form of paradoxical respiration, the chest and abdominals function oppose each other.

· Normal effort produces inadequate tidal volume; more energy (ATP) and increased cervical and thoracic thalamic/cortical representation must be accessed to maintain a minimal tidal volume.

· Accessory respiration muscles of the upper chest must come into play, including scalenes, upper trapezius and levator scapula. The muscles overwork to exchange sufficient air. Accessory muscle hypertonia will be palpable and observable. Hypertonic scalenes can entrap lymphatic structures mechanically, which has been shown to reflexively suppress lymphatic duct peristaltic contraction in the affected extremity.

· Fibrosis (regional myofascial pain) will occur in these overworked muscles.

· Trigger points in the pectoralis, subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi caused by thoracic breathing patterns negatively influence lymphatic drainage.

· The neurological overload (increased thalamic integration and priority given to secondary respiratory muscles) changes the thalamic relays to give priority to respiratory function. Other visceral afferents are simply filtered. Thus the connection to other visceral afferents is “lost.”

· Cardiovascular dysfunction and high blood pressure can result as the CNS fights for a minimal functional tidal volume.

Aberrant Initiation that is focused in the lumbars is a common presentation as the first sign of interference and inefficiency in the CNS.